U.S. patent application number 13/077221 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-15 for hands-free electric scooter.
Invention is credited to Joon Hyung Kim.
Application Number | 20110303475 13/077221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45095324 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110303475 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Joon Hyung |
December 15, 2011 |
HANDS-FREE ELECTRIC SCOOTER
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hands-free electric scooter
including: a bottom housing; a steering housing disposed on the
bottom housing; a steering shaft having a pressurizing plate
mounted along the lower periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion
formed on one side of the pressurizing plate, a manipulating rod
mounted on the underside of the horizontal protrusion, and a
stopper mounted along the intermediate periphery thereof; a
steering jig having an insertion hole formed at one side thereof, a
micro switch mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole and
having a grounding stick disposed at one side thereof, and an
installation hole formed at the front side of the insertion hole;
and a potential meter adapted to control direction changes of the
hands-free electric scooter.
Inventors: |
Kim; Joon Hyung; (Seoul,
KR) |
Family ID: |
45095324 |
Appl. No.: |
13/077221 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 11/007 20161101;
B60L 2200/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/218 |
International
Class: |
B60L 11/00 20060101
B60L011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 14, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0055778 |
Claims
1. A hands-free electric scooter having a bottom housing 10 into
which a controller 13 on which a variety of sensors inclusive of a
gyroscope sensor are arranged, batteries 12, and motors 11 are
housed, and a pair of wheels 14 mounted on both sides of the bottom
housing 10, thereby sensing an inclined angle of a rider's body and
performing riding according to the sensed result, the hands-free
electric scooter comprising: a steering housing 30 disposed on the
bottom housing 10; a steering shaft 41 insertedly disposed at the
interior of the steering housing 30 in such a manner as to have a
seat 40 mounted along the top portion thereof and to be assembled
to a steering jig 50 along the lower portion thereof, the steering
shaft 41 having a pressurizing plate 43 mounted along the lower
periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion 44 formed on one side of
the pressurizing plate 43, a manipulating rod 45 mounted on the
underside of the horizontal protrusion 44, and a stopper 42 mounted
along the intermediate periphery thereof so as to prevent the
steering shaft 41 from being escaped from the steering housing 30;
the steering jig 50 having an insertion hole 51 formed at one side
thereof so as to insert the steering shaft 41 thereinto, a micro
switch 63 mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole 51 so as
to control the drive of the motors 11 and having a grounding stick
64 disposed at one side thereof, and an installation hole 53 formed
at the front side of the insertion hole 51 so as to mount a
potential meter 60 therealong; and the potential meter 60 adapted
to control direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter and
having a manipulating plate 61 mounted along the top periphery
thereof, the manipulating plate 61 having an elongated hole 62
formed at one side thereof, wherein if the steering shaft 41 is
insertedly fitted to the insertion hole 51 of the steering jig 50,
the pressurizing plate 43 serves to pressurize the grounding stick
64 of the micro switch 63, thereby allowing the manipulating rod 45
to be inserted into the elongated hole 62 of the manipulating plate
61.
2. The hands-free electric scooter according to claim 1, wherein
between the horizontal protrusion 44 formed on one side of the
pressurizing plate 43 and an upward protrusion 52 formed at the
front side of the installation hole 53 of the steering jig 50 is
interposed a first spring 46, and between the horizontal protrusion
44 formed on one side of the pressurizing plate 43 and a mounting
hole 32 formed on the top portion of the steering housing 30 is
interposed a second spring 47.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0055778, filed
Jun. 14, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an electric scooter, and
more particularly, to a hands-free electric scooter that does not
need the use of a rider's hands at the time of manipulating forward
and backward movements and left and right direction changes during
riding.
[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional stand-up
riding electric scooter. As shown in FIG. 1, a stand-up riding
electric scooter 70 is ridden while maintaining the balance between
two wheels in real time. So as to maintain the balance of the two
wheels, that is, while a variety of electrical processors inclusive
of a gyroscope sensor are being controlled through a controller,
the balance of the two wheels is maintained in real time, thereby
making it possible to perform forward and backward movements and
left and right direction changes of the electric scooter 70.
[0006] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a state where a rider
stands up on the stand-up riding electric scooter 70 if he holds
manipulating hands 72 and inclines his body forwardly by a given
angle, the variety of sensors inclusive of the gyroscope sensor
sense the inclination, and the wheels of the electric scooter are
driven in a direction of the inclination, such that the inclination
is removed and the electric scooter does not fall down forwardly by
the generation of the inclination, thereby correcting the position
of the electric scooter and providing safe riding.
[0007] Therefore, while the rider is maintaining his body balance
and the stand-up position through the two wheels, the forward and
backward movements can be achieved in accordance with the direction
of his body inclination, and the left and right direction changes
can be achieved by pulling the left and right manipulating handles
72.
[0008] In the configuration of the conventional stand-up riding
electric scooter 70 wherein the rider should ride the electric
scooter 70 in the state of holding the manipulating handles 72 in
the stand-up position, however, there occurs a serious problem that
the hands of the rider are not free during the riding. On the other
hand, as shown in FIG. 1, because of a structural problem caused by
a fixing shaft 71 erectly mounted on the stand-up riding electric
scooter 70 in such a manner as to be disposed together with the
manipulating handles 72, the whole size of the electric scooter
becomes increased, so that the electric scooter 70 is not put in a
car trunk.
[0009] Because of the center of gravity focused just on the fixing
shaft 71 and the manipulating handles 72, in addition, the
conventional stand-up riding electric scooter 70 falls to the
ground if the supply of power stops, and therefore, so as to
prevent the falling of the electric scooter 70, the supply of power
to the electric scooter 70 should be kept even while the electric
scooter 70 is being parked.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of
the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is
an object of the present invention to provide a hands-free electric
scooter that does not have any existing manipulating handles and
fixing shaft, thereby allowing a rider's hands to be free during
riding.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hands-free electric scooter that performs forward and backward
movements in a state where a rider sits in a seat and bends his
body and performs left and right direction changes in a state where
he sits in the seat and turns his body to left and right sides,
such that his hands can be free during riding, and even though the
rider has a disorder in his hands, he can easily ride the electric
scooter.
[0012] To accomplish the above objects, according to the present
invention, there is provided a hands-free electric scooter having a
bottom housing into which a controller on which a variety of
sensors inclusive of a gyroscope sensor are arranged, batteries,
and motors are housed, and a pair of wheels mounted on both sides
of the bottom housing, thereby sensing an inclined angle of a
rider's body and performing riding according to the sensed result,
the hands-free electric scooter including: a steering housing
disposed on the bottom housing; a steering shaft insertedly
disposed at the interior of the steering housing in such a manner
as to have a seat mounted along the top portion thereof and to be
assembled to a steering jig along the lower portion thereof, the
steering shaft having a pressurizing plate mounted along the lower
periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion formed on one side of
the pressurizing plate, a manipulating rod mounted on the underside
of the horizontal protrusion, and a stopper mounted along the
intermediate periphery thereof so as to prevent the steering shaft
from being escaped from the steering housing; the steering jig
having an insertion hole formed at one side thereof so as to insert
the steering shaft thereinto, a micro switch mounted at the rear
side of the insertion hole so as to control the drive of the motors
and having a grounding stick disposed at one side thereof, and an
installation hole formed at the front side of the insertion hole so
as to mount a potential meter therealong; and the potential meter
adapted to control direction changes of the hands-free electric
scooter and having a manipulating plate mounted along the top
periphery thereof, the manipulating plate having an elongated hole
formed at one side thereof, wherein if the steering shaft is
insertedly fitted to the insertion hole of the steering jig, the
pressurizing plate serves to pressurize the grounding stick of the
micro switch, thereby allowing the manipulating rod to be inserted
into the elongated hole of the manipulating plate.
[0013] According to the present invention, desirably, a first
spring is interposed between the horizontal protrusion formed on
one side of the pressurizing plate and an upward protrusion formed
at the front side of the installation hole of the steering jig, and
a second spring is interposed between the horizontal protrusion
formed on one side of the pressurizing plate and a mounting hole
formed on the top portion of the steering housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional stand-up
riding electric scooter;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a separate perspective view showing a hands-free
electric scooter according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a separate perspective view showing the assembled
state of a bottom housing in the hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a separate perspective view showing the assembled
state of a steering housing in the hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 5a and 5b are separate perspective views showing the
assembled state of a steering jig in the hands-free electric
scooter according to the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 6a and 6b are separate perspective views showing the
assembled state of the steering jig and the steering shaft in the
hands-free electric scooter according to the present invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of
the hands-free electric scooter according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] As appreciated from the title of the invention, a main
feature of the present invention is placed on the electric scooter
that does not make use of a rider's hands so as to perform forward
and backward movements and left and right direction changes during
riding, thereby ensuring that the rider's hands are free during the
riding.
[0023] Hereinafter, an explanation on a hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention will be in detail given with
reference to the attached drawings.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a separate perspective view showing a hands-free
electric scooter according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is
a separate perspective view showing the assembled state of a bottom
housing in the hands-free electric scooter according to the present
invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bottom housing 10 is
disposed at the lower portion of the hands-free electric scooter,
and batteries 12 for supplying power are mounted inside the bottom
housing 10. On the other hand, two motors 11 are mounted on both
sides of the bottom housing 10 so as to receive the power supplied
from the batteries 12 and to drive two wheels 14, and the two
wheels 14 are mounted at the outside of the bottom housing 10 and
are rotated by means of the drive of the motors 11. Also, a
controller 13 on which a variety of sensors inclusive of a
gyroscope sensor are arranged is mounted inside the bottom housing
10 so as to control the riding and direction changes of the
electric scooter.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a separate perspective view showing the assembled
state of a steering housing in the hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a foot
board 20 on which a rider stands up is disposed on the top surface
of the bottom housing 10, and guide plates 21 are disposed on both
sides of the upper portion of the foot board 20 so as to protect
the rider from the rotating wheels 14. On the other hand, a
steering housing 30 into which a steering jig 50 is mounted is
disposed on the top portion of the foot board 20, as shown in FIG.
4. A key box 31 is provided on the steering housing 30.
[0026] FIGS. 5a and 5b are separate perspective views showing the
assembled state of the steering jig in the hands-free electric
scooter according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6a and 6b are
separate perspective views showing the assembled state of the
steering jig and the steering shaft in the hands-free electric
scooter according to the present invention. FIGS. 5a to 6b show the
features of the configuration of the hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention, and under this substantial
configuration, the rider's hands can be free during the riding.
[0027] FIG. 5a shows a detailed configuration of the steering jig
50. The steering jig 50 is disposed inside the steering housing 30,
as shown in FIG. 4 and has an insertion hole 51 formed at one side
thereof so as to insert a steering shaft 41 thereinto. On the other
hand, a seat 40 is mounted along the top portion of the steering
shaft 41, in which the rider sits.
[0028] Also, a micro switch 63 is mounted at the rear side of the
insertion hole 51 so as to control the drive of the motors 11, and
a potential meter 60 is fitted along an installation hole 53 formed
at the front side of the insertion hole 51 so as to control the
direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter according to
the present invention. The potential meter 60 is a rotary type
potential meter that detects a rotation angle during riding by
utilizing a resistance, and so as to operate the potential meter
60, a manipulating plate 61 is mounted on the top portion of the
potential meter 60.
[0029] FIGS. 6a and 6b are separate perspective views showing the
assembled state of the steering jig and the steering shaft in the
hands-free electric scooter according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 6a, a pressurizing plate 43 is mounted along the
lower periphery of the steering shaft 41 so as to pressurize a
grounding stick 64 of the micro switch 63, and a horizontal
protrusion 44 is formed on one side of the pressurizing plate 43 so
as to mount first and second springs 46 and 47 and a manipulating
rod 45 thereon. The manipulating rod 45 is mounted on the underside
of the horizontal protrusion 44, and as shown in FIG. 6a, it is
fitted to the interior of an elongated hole 62 formed on the
manipulating plate 61.
[0030] On the other hand, a stopper 42 is mounted along the
intermediate periphery of the steering shaft 41 so as to prevent
the steering shaft 41 from being escaped from the steering housing
30 when the steering shaft 41 pulls upwardly.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 6a, the steering shaft 41 is rotatably
inserted into the insertion hole 51, and at the same time, the
manipulating rod 45 is fitted to the elongated hole 62 of the
manipulating plate 61 mounted on the potential meter 60. Also, the
pressurizing plate 43 mounted along the steering shaft 41 is
positioned above the micro switch 63 so as to press the grounding
stick 64 of the micro switch 63, as shown in FIG. 6b.
[0032] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6b, the first spring 46
is interposed between the horizontal protrusion 44 formed on one
side of the pressurizing plate 43 and an upward protrusion 52
formed at the front side of the installation hole 53, and the
second spring 47 is interposed between the horizontal protrusion 44
formed on one side of the pressurizing plate 43 and a mounting hole
32 formed on the top portion of the steering housing 30. Now, the
functions of the detailed configurations of the steering jig 50 and
the steering shaft 41 will be explained through the operating
procedure of the hands-free electric scooter according to the
present invention.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of
the hands-free electric scooter according to the present invention,
and in a state where the hands-free electric scooter according to
the present invention is assembled as shown in FIG. 7, if a key is
inserted into the key box 31 and is then turned, the batteries 12
are activated and an initial state for riding starts.
[0034] At this time, if the rider sits in the seat 40, the steering
shaft 41 is moved downwardly by the load of the rider, as shown in
FIG. 6b. This is because the steering shaft 41 can be contracted
and extended upwardly and downwardly by means of the second spring
47 interposed between the pressurizing plate 43 and the mounting
hole 32 formed on the top portion of the steering housing 30.
[0035] As mentioned above, if the steering shaft 41 is moved
downwardly, the underside of the pressurizing plate 43 mounted
along the lower periphery of the steering shaft 41 pressurizes the
grounding stick 64 of the micro switch 63, as appreciated from FIG.
6b. This state is the drive preparation state for the motors 11.
That is, the motors 11 are driven if the rider's body bends in the
state where the grounding stick 64 of the micro switch 63 is
pressed.
[0036] For example, in the state where the rider sits in the seat
40, if his body is inclined to a predetermined angle, the variety
of sensors inclusive of the gyroscope sensor sense the inclination,
and the motors 11 are rotated to a degree removing the inclination,
such that the wheels 14 are driven in the direction of the
inclination and the position of the hands-free scooter is corrected
to provide safe riding.
[0037] On the other hand, if the rider gets off the electric
scooter because of arriving at a destination or the irregular road
surface, the motors 11 are returned to a state of being impossible
to rotate, which is because the second spring 47 is elastically
returned by means of the rider's getting off to cause the
pressurizing plate 43 and the grounding stick 64 of the micro
switch 63 to be spaced apart from each other. According to the
present invention, therefore, only if the rider gets off the
electric scooter, the motors 11 are not driven, thereby previously
preventing unexpected safety accidents caused by the continuous
driving of the motors 11 from occurring.
[0038] According to the present invention, also, the direction
changes of the electric scooter can be carried out by rotating the
seat 40. For example, if the rider twists his body at the waist
during riding, the steering shaft 41 is rotated, as appreciated
from FIG. 6, and further, the manipulating rod 45 mounted on the
lower periphery of the steering shaft 41 is rotated. At this time,
the manipulating plate 61 is rotated together with the manipulating
rod 45, and thus, the potential meter 60 is rotated. As a result,
the rotation of the seat 40 allows the potential meter 60 to be
rotated.
[0039] The potential meter 60 is a rotary type potential meter
which detects a rotation angle of riding by utilizing a resistance,
and the detected rotation angle from the potential meter 60 is sent
to the controller 13, such that the hands-free electric scooter
according to the present invention performs the direction changes
by means of the signal generated from the controller 13. After the
direction change through the twisting of the seat 40 is performed,
the seat 40 is maintained at a position on which the rider always
can look forward by means of the elastic force of the first spring
46 interposed between the upward protrusion 52 of the steering jig
50 and the horizontal protrusion 44 formed on the pressurizing
plate 43.
[0040] As described above, there is provided the hands-free
electric scooter that does not need to make use of the rider's
hands for manipulation during riding, thereby permitting the
rider's hands to be completely free during the riding, so that he
can do something like taking a picture with a camera. Also, even
though the rider has a disorder in his hands, he can easily ride
the electric scooter just by twisting his body at the waist and
bending his body in a state of sitting in the seat.
[0041] Further, since the hands-free electric scooter according to
the present invention does not need the parts like the fixing shaft
and the manipulating handles disposed on the conventional stand-up
riding electric scooter, advantageously, the hands-free electric
scooter can be put in a car trunk. In addition, since the center of
gravity of the hands-free electric scooter according to the present
invention is placed on the bottom housing, the hands-free electric
scooter can maintain the center of gravity thereof like a tumbling
doll even while it is not being ridden, such that there is no need
for activation of the batteries to maintain the center of gravity
of the electric scooter while the electric scooter is not being
ridden.
[0042] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *